How to grow & use lemon basil - The chef's gardener

Lemon basil is ideal if you like cooking South Asian or North East African Dishes.

This basil has a unique very intense citrus (lemony) flavour.

Below you will find:

How to grow lemon basil at home
How to use lemon basil & examples recipes

How to grow lemon basil at home

Quick summary:

Height 60 cm, Spread 35 cm
Loves warm, sunny conditions
Days from seed to harvest : 75 days

To grow it you will need:

1 packet Lemon basil seeds
Plant pot & soil
1 Seed tray (optional)
1 Heating mat (optional)

Method

The first step is to get the basil seeds.

You can order them online from Amazon or some garden centres will sell them.

The next stage is to put the seeds in the soil.

Fill a plant pot (or a few pots ) with soil, then add the seeds and sprinkle a bit of soil on top.
Quick tip – If you put the seeds into a bowl of water for 30 minutes to 1 hour they will start growing quicker then simply putting them in soil.
Quick tip – Instead of using plants pots start the seeds using a seed tray with a lid. The advantage of using a lid is that it will retain the moisture helping your plants grow. Simply put a bit of soil in the tray, spoon in the seeds and cover with a bit of soil.

Then simply put the pot or tray somewhere safe and leave them to sprout.

The seeds will germinate in 5 to 15 days.
Quick tip – Use a heat mat. All you do is put the tray on the mat and the extra heat will significantly speed up how fast your seeds will grow.
For more info & why it works so well have a look at our article on a seed starter mat

Help them grow

When they’ve grown thin the seedlings or transplant leaving 30 cm between plants, Then simple put them somewhere warm and sunny and wait for them to grow.
One option (depending on the time of year or where you live) is to use an indoor grow light.

Notes

It is ideally suited for planting outside in a pot on a balcony or terrace or inside on a sunny windowsill (or using lighting)

How to grow basil using Hydroponics or Aquaponics.

Basil is one of the most popular herbs to grow using hydroponics – As it will be ready to be harvested quicker than planted in soil.

New to hydroponics? – Top 5 hydroponic kits for beginners

But in addition it is ideal for aquaponics – especially because it loves nitrogen. In addition, whether using hydroponics or aquaponics you will be able to grow it all year around – providing you with fresh herbs when you want it.

How to use lemon basil & examples recipes

This is the ideal herb if you like cooking South Asian or North East African Dishes.

For example Indonesian, Philippine or Arabic…

The unique flavour is a must. In addition a key benefit is that it can be used in many different ways – for example eaten raw with a salad, used to season many cooked dishes or even used in sweet desserts.

Example recipes: